Facebook Names Sheryl Sandberg To Board

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg was named Monday to the company's board of directors. Sandberg is the first woman on Facebook's board.

Vincenzo Pinto
/ AFP/Getty Images

Originally published on June 26, 2012 6:43 am

Facebook now has a woman on its board of directors: The company announced Monday that Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg would join the board.

Sandberg, the company's No.2 executive, was hired away from Google in 2008.

"Sheryl has been my partner in running Facebook and has been central to our growth and success over the years," Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement on the social networking site's website. "Her understanding of our mission and long-term opportunity, and her experience both at Facebook and on public company boards makes her a natural fit for our board."

There had been public calls for the company to add a woman to its board, but Facebook didn't say whether Monday's move was related to those demands.

"Sandberg has been largely responsible for building Facebook's advertising business. She's also often serves as Facebook's public face, appearing at conferences and important meetings, while Zuckerberg often prefers to stay in the background and focus on Facebook's products."

Sandberg, who began her career at the World Bank, was Google's vice president of Global Online Sales and Operations. Before that she served as chief of staff for the Treasury Department under President Clinton.